Multi-disciplinary research
Publication:

FTO gene is related to obesity in Chilean Amerindian children and impairs HOMA-IR in prepubertal girls (2012)

Author(s): Riffo B, Asenjo S, Sáez K, Aguayo C, Muñoz I, Bustos P, Celis-Morales CA, Lagos J, Sapunar J, Ulloa N

    Abstract: OBJECTIVE: The objective of this study was to investigate the allelic frequency of the fat mass and obesity-associated (FTO) gene (rs9939609) and its influences on obesity and metabolic risk biomarkers in a cohort of normal weight and obese Chilean children determining its ethnicity. METHODS: A total of 136 normal weight children and 238 obese children (between 6 and 11 yr old) from an urban setting were recruited for this case-control study. The children were classified as normal weight [body mass index (BMI) ≥ 5th and < 85th percentiles] or obese (BMI >95th percentile), according to the international age- and gender-specific percentiles defined by the Center for Disease Control and Prevention. The analysis of serum markers was carried out using commercial kits. The FTO polymorphism was determined through a high-resolution melting enabled real time polymerase chain reaction. Ethnicity was determined by analyzing mitochondrial DNA by the restriction fragment length polymorphism method. RESULTS: As much as 85% of the cohort was Amerindian. The minor A allele of rs9939609 was associated with obesity (odds ratio (OR): 1.422 [95% confidence interval (CI) 1.068-1.868] p = 0.015), calculated using an additive model. In sex-stratified analysis we found that the risk variant (A) of rs9939609 was associated with a higher homeostasis model of assessment for insulin (HOMA-IR) in prepubertal obese girls. In male carriers of the A allele, HOMA-IR showed no further deterioration than that already associated with obesity. CONCLUSIONS: In summary, we confirm the association of the FTO gene single-nucleotide polymorphism rs9939609 with obesity in Chilean Amerindian children. Furthermore we show an association between the risk allele (A) and insulin resistance-related markers prepubertal obese girls.

    • Type of Article: Original Research
    • Date: 05-12-2011
    • Journal: Pediatric Diabetes
    • Volume: 13
    • Issue: 5
    • Pages: 384-391
    • Publisher: Wiley-Blackwell Publishing, Inc.
    • Publication type: Article
    • Bibliographic status: Published

    Keywords: FTO gene, Obesity, Insulin Resistance, Childhood, Ethnicity.

    Staff

    Dr Carlos Celis Morales
    Research Associate